But, thanks to Carlotta, nobody had a chance to say it and later Tony Holiday, standing in the twilight in front of College Hall’s steps, sang her solo, Gounod’s beautiful Ave Maria, smiled happily down into the faces of the dear folks from her beloved Hill and only regretted that Larry was not there with the rest—­Larry who, for all the others knew, might never come again.

After dinner Ted rushed off again to the telegraph office which he had been haunting all the afternoon to see if any word had come from his brother, and Doctor Holiday went on up to the campus to escort his niece to the informal hop.  He had decided to go on just as if nothing was wrong.  If Larry was safe then there was no need of clouding Tony’s joy, and if he wasn’t—­well, there would be time enough to grieve when they knew.  By virtue of his being a grave and reverend uncle he was admitted to the sacred precincts of his niece’s room and had hardly gotten seated when the door flew open and Ted flew in waving two yellow telegraph blanks triumphantly, one in each hand, and announcing that everything was all right—­Larry was all right, had wired from Pittsburgh.

Before Tony had a chance to demand what it was all about the door opened again and a righteously indignant house mother appeared on the threshold, demanding by what right an unauthorized male had gone up her stairway and entered a girl’s room, without permission or escort.

“I apologize,” beamed Ted with his most engaging smile.  “Come on outside, Mrs. Maynerd and I’ll tell you all about it.”  And tucking his arm in hers the irrepressible youth conveyed the angry personage out into the hall, leaving his uncle to explain the situation to Tony.

In a moment he was back triumphant.

“She says I may stay since I’m here, and Uncle Phil is here to play dragon,” he announced.  “She thought at first Carlotta would have to be expunged to make it legal, but I overruled her, told her you and I had played tiddle-de-winks with each other in our cradles,” he added with an impish grin at his sister’s roommate.  “Of course I never laid eyes on you till two years ago, but that doesn’t matter.  I have a true tiddle-de-winks feeling for you, anyway, and that is what counts, isn’t it, sweetness?”

Carlotta laughed and averred that she was going to expunge herself anyway as Phil was waiting for her downstairs.  She picked up a turquoise satin mandarin cloak from the chair and Ted sprang to put it around her bare shoulders, stooping to kiss the tip of her ear as he finished.

“Lucky Phil!” he murmured.

Carlotta shook her head at him and went over to Tony, over whom she bent for an instant with unusual feeling in her lovely eyes.

“Oh, my dear,” she whispered.  “I wish I could tell you how I feel.  I’m so glad—­so glad.”  And then she was gone before Tony could answer.

“Oh me!” she sighed.  “She has been so wonderful.  You all have.  Ted—­Uncle Phil!  Come over here.  I want to hold you tight.”